WHO: Members of the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance [NCNR] have long been protesting U.S. war-making, including killer drone strikes, income inequality and climate chaos. On the anniversary of Henry David Thoreau’s 200th birthday, July 12, 2017, six members of the group delivered a petition to four members of the leadership in Congress.--Sen. Mitch McConnell, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Paul Ryan. These members of NCNR petitioned the Congressional leadership on behalf of the voiceless, the poor, the middle class, the immigrants and people whose pleas are ignored. The petition condemned Congress for consistently allocating tax dollars for the U.S. military to cause death and destruction in many parts of the world, most especially the Middle East. When the group began to read the petition on the U.S. Capitol steps, across from the Supreme Court, they were arrested and charged with “Disobeying a Lawful Order” by the Capitol Police. The charges would eventually be dismissed.

WHAT: Now NCNR members are petitioning on behalf of the people of Yemen, where the situation is dire. So we are appealing to Rep. Steny Hoyer, as Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, that he must speak out against Saudi Arabian war crimes, must condemn any further arms sales to the Desert Kingdom and help bring to a vote House Concurrent Resolution 81 [https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/81]. This resolution’s title is "Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Republic of Yemen."

NCNR members and constituents have repeatedly requested a meeting with Rep. Hoyer or an aide to discuss the U.S. military’s role in the devastating attacks on the people of Yemen. Unfortunately, all requests have been rebuffed. The National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance believes that members of Congress have a duty to meet with citizens and constituents as part of the democratic process. So an NCNR contingent plans to go and demand a meeting with the Minority Whip.

WHEN and WHERE: January 11, 2018 at 2 PM in 1705 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515

WHY: The U.S. government is abetting Saudi Arabia in waging war on the people of Yemen. NCNR finds this situation unconscionable that our government is using U.S. taxpayer dollars to support a country, well-known for violating human rights and most responsible for the death and destruction taking place in one of the poorest countries in the world. Various international agencies have pointed out rampant human rights abuse by the Saudi government against its people.

In a December 20, 2017 press release [see https://www.unicef.org/media/media_102348.html], this was reported: “A UNICEF-chartered plane landed today in Sana’a and delivered nearly 6 million doses of essential vaccines to protect millions of children at risk of preventable diseases, including the current diphtheria outbreak that has reportedly infected over 300 people and killed 35. Most diphtheria cases and deaths are among children.” The release added this: “Nearly 1,000 days since the conflict escalated in Yemen, the country is in the grips of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with restrictions on fuel and food imports further complicating emergency response. The restrictions add to the misery of children in Yemen who already face the triple threat of diseases, malnutrition and violence.”

Kathy Kelly, who co-coordinates Voices for Creative Nonviolence, will be part of the delegation going to Rep. Hoyer’s office. She wrote an article,“Let Yemenis Live,” which was published by Common Dreams on December 23, 2017. She also recognizes U.S. complicity in the devastation of Yemen: “Despite the recent publicity for stern words from Donald Trump and Theresa May, urging Saudi Arabia to lift its blockade of Yemen, both countries continue to pocket billions of dollars selling weapons to Saudi Arabia. President Trump swiftly condemned the Houthi fighters for firing several rockets at Saudi Arabia and the UAE. But the Houthis could claim to be using these weapons in self-defense after Saudi and UAE jets have dropped tons of bombs, purchased from the U.S. and the UK, on Yemeni cities and civilians. Observers say if the U.S. stopped its midair refueling of Saudi bomber planes, the war would end shortly thereafter.”

Why does our government support Saudi Arabia while it engages in war crimes? Why allow sales of U.S. weapons to a government that routinely commits human rights abuses? Why not end U.S. culpability in terrorizing the children of Yemen? NCNR will seek answers from Rep. Hoyer on January 11, and members of the delegation will demand that he, in good conscience, must speak out about U.S. support for the destruction of Yemen. The delegation is a group of ordinary people who have a responsibility as U.S. citizens to speak out against our government’s involvement in this vicious war against the people of Yemen.

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"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs